A Greek researcher in the US National Academy of Medicine

Rena Bizios, Ph.D., Peter T. Flawn Professor, department of biomedical engineering, University of Texas, San Antonio is among the newly elected regular members of the National Academy of Medicine.

The National Academy of Medicine, formerly the Institute of Medicine, announced the election of 70 regular members and 10 international members during its annual meeting. Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. This is the inaugural annual meeting as the National Academy of Medicine and the 45th year since the establishment of the Institute of Medicine.

“Our newly elected members represent the brightest, most influential, and passionate people in health, science, and medicine in our nation and internationally,” said NAM President Victor J. Dzau. “They are at the top of their fields and are committed to service. The expertise they bring to the organization will help us respond to today’s most pressing health-related challenges and inform the future of health, science, and medicine. It is my privilege to welcome these distinguished individuals to the National Academy of Medicine.”

New members are elected by current active members through a selective process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health. A diversity of talent among NAM’s membership is assured by its Articles of Organization, which stipulate that at least one-quarter of the membership is selected from fields outside the health professions — for example, from such fields as law, engineering, social sciences, and the humanities. The newly elected members raise NAM’s total active membership to 1,826 and the number of international members to 137.

Who is Rena Bizios

Rena is a Peter T. Flawn Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She earned her B.S. (CumLaude) degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology, and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Her research interests include cellular and tissue engineering, tissue regeneration, biomaterials (including nanostructured ones) and biocompatibility. She has co‐authored a textbook, co‐edited a book, and authored/co‐authored over 104 scientific publications and book chapters. She has given numerous presentations at
scientific conferences and invited seminars/lectures in academic institutions and industry. She has also organized and/or co‐chaired numerous symposia and sessions at national/international conferences.

She is a member of many professional societies. She has been an active participant (including elected positions) in the Society for Biomaterials, the Biomedical Engineering society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers. She is member of the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research (Part A and Part B), Technology, and of the Journal of Nano Research. She has participated and chaired NIH Study Sections and also participated in NSF Review Panels and similar national/international review committees.